At home in Southern Germany, the passionate stock exchange expert has been accompanying the capital markets for about twenty years. With a soft spot for smaller companies, he is constantly on the lookout for exciting investment stories. That it depends thereby less on large names, but on the future potential and whether the market also recognizes these perspectives, was one of its first learnings at the stock exchange.
On these pages, Nico examines current events at listed companies and takes a closer look at companies that are traded under the radar of the market, in addition to well-known securities.
In order to be able to take advantage of speculative opportunities on the stock exchange, Nico not only focuses on a balanced asset allocation of defensive and opportunity-oriented securities, but also on an intact risk management. "In addition to position size and entry in several tranches, investors should also develop a sense of timing and get to know a stock better before investing," says the columnist.
Commented by Nico Popp
Commented by Nico Popp on May 5th, 2026 | 07:20 CEST
The Methane Economy – How a Greenhouse Gas Becomes an Investment Opportunity: Chevron, BP, and Problem-Solver Zefiro Methane
The US energy sector is transforming. For over a century, companies like Chevron have shaped the US industry and produced oil on a massive scale. But this unprecedented rise has left an ecological footprint. Countless abandoned or "orphan" wells in the US continue to emit methane - a greenhouse gas that, over a twenty-year period, has a warming effect about 80 times greater than that of CO₂. Politicians are now taking action and calling for an end to this methane crisis. While industry giants like Chevron face increasing pressure to curb methane emissions, Zefiro Methane tackles the problem at its root by plugging orphaned oil wells. Because the work is challenging and Zefiro brings years of experience to the table, the company is the first port of call for many industry partners. Just how necessary Zefiro's commitment is is demonstrated by the International Energy Agency's (IEA) latest report, "Global Methane Tracker 2026," which notes that sealing all methane leaks could make up to 200 billion cubic meters of natural gas available—gas that has previously been escaping into the atmosphere.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 1st, 2026 | 07:25 CEST
Is a Western Tungsten Ecosystem Emerging? Almonty Industries vs China Tungsten – Does Rheinmetall Stand to Gain?
The supply of tungsten has become one of the most critical bottlenecks for Western security and high technology. The metal, which has the highest melting point of any element at 3,422°C, is simply irreplaceable in modern weapon systems, semiconductors, and technologies ranging from the energy transition to fusion energy. While the Chinese market leader, China Tungsten and Hightech Materials, continues to post impressive record figures, a turning point is unfolding behind the scenes: China is transforming from a dominant exporter to a strategic importer of tungsten concentrates. This development is forcing Western consumers like Rheinmetall to radically reevaluate their supply chains to avoid dependence on Beijing's export decisions. Almonty is stepping into this strategic vacuum; with the commissioning of the Sangdong mine in South Korea, it is becoming the new linchpin of a Western-oriented raw materials alliance. The current market situation makes it clear that the era of cheap and always-available tungsten from the Far East is over. This makes establishing self-sufficient supply chains in secure jurisdictions a top priority for Western governments. Almonty is likely to benefit. We compare this ambitious tungsten player with the Chinese market leader.
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Commented by Nico Popp on May 1st, 2026 | 07:00 CEST
Long-established German companies under pressure: BASF, Lufthansa, and antimony pioneer Antimony Resources
Created and published on behalf of Antimony Resources Corp.
German industry is facing a severe test: recent media reports indicate that production shortages are already emerging due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Two crisis hotspots are converging. A military blockade of the world's most important energy trade route has restricted supplies of crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and chemical feedstocks such as methanol. At the same time, China is leveraging its dominance in critical minerals, such as antimony, to impose restrictive export controls, further drying up the market. In this environment, raw material sovereignty is the decisive competitive factor. While giants like BASF and Lufthansa are adapting their business models to the situation, problem solvers like Antimony Resources are moving into the spotlight.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 30th, 2026 | 07:30 CEST
Food Crisis on the Horizon? Nutrien and Nestlé on Edge, MustGrow Biologics Offers Solutions
Created and published on behalf of MustGrow Biologics Corp.
The agricultural sector is currently experiencing an unprecedented crisis, triggered by pervasive geopolitical tensions and the Strait of Hormuz blockade. The latter development, in particular, has exposed the Achilles' heel of modern agriculture: the extreme dependence on fossil fuels for fertilizer production and the fragility of global just-in-time supply chains. Since about 20% of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows through this strait, the blockade not only raises energy costs but also directly threatens nitrogen fertilizer production, for which natural gas is the primary cost driver. If fertilizer becomes more expensive, fields could lie fallow, leading to a decline in food production. This could even lead to hunger, particularly in poorer regions of the world. Fertilizer must be applied to fields in a timely manner to be effective. In this environment, established giants like Nutrien and Nestlé must radically optimize their business models, while players such as MustGrow Biologics are gaining importance as drivers of innovation.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 30th, 2026 | 07:20 CEST
Mining in the Grey Zone: Barrick Mining, B2Gold, and the Unique Opportunity at Desert Gold
The search for raw materials is challenging. Companies are increasingly confronted with the reality that high-quality geological deposits are found in regions with high political volatility. The concept of "Mining in the Grey Zone," coined by Amanda van Dyke, founder of the Critical Minerals Hub, aptly describes this phenomenon: these are areas where weak state sovereignty intersects with the need to secure strategic mineral deposits. In her analyses, Van Dyke argues that traditional risk metrics often fail in these zones, as local power structures, informal networks, and on-the-ground presence are more critical to operational security than official national policies in capitals. For investors who bet on companies with expertise in countries like Mali, this can be an opportunity.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 29th, 2026 | 11:05 CEST
Powering the AI Revolution: OpenAI, Amazon, and Nuclear Pioneer American Atomics
The global economy is currently undergoing a fundamental transformation that experts describe as the beginning of a new infrastructure supercycle. While software innovations and platform economies have been at the forefront in recent decades, the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has shifted the focus to the tangible prerequisites of digitalization: energy and computing power. The hunger for electricity triggered by the next generation of Large Language Models (LLMs) and autonomous AI agents is forging new alliances: Leading technology conglomerates and the nuclear industry have long been joining forces. According to recent analyses by Goldman Sachs, data center energy demand worldwide will more than double by the end of the decade, making the search for CO₂-free baseload power an existential issue for Silicon Valley. We shed light on this trend and highlight opportunities.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 29th, 2026 | 11:00 CEST
Industrial Energy Transition: Air Liquide, Forgent, and SME Favorite A.H.T. Syngas
Today, more than ever, the industrial climate transition requires a technological mix of suitable infrastructure and highly efficient, decentralized gasification solutions. This need is further exacerbated by the current geopolitical situation and the ongoing energy crisis resulting from the Iran conflict. Since the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has led to a significant loss of global liquefied natural gas supply, companies are desperately seeking alternatives to secure their energy supply. According to forecasts by the International Energy Agency (IEA), fossil fuel procurement costs will remain high, further increasing the urgency of industrial decarbonization. In this market environment, a two-way split is emerging. While market leader Air Liquide offers suitable solutions for heavy industry through the establishment of hydrogen hubs and CO₂ capture, specialized providers are competing for the enormous opportunities in the energy utilization of waste and other residual materials. We present the opportunities.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 28th, 2026 | 11:30 CEST
AI Infrastructure and Mining Data: The Trio of Meta, Anthropic, and Aspermont
The global economy is currently undergoing a profound transformation. While the past two decades were primarily shaped by software scalability, the coming decade will be defined by the availability of tangible raw materials. The insatiable energy appetite of artificial intelligence (AI), coupled with ambitious goals in space exploration and nuclear fusion, has ushered in a new race for resources. Hyperscalers like Meta Platforms and AI pioneers like Anthropic are at the center of this, as their need for computing power and a stable energy supply is directly linked to the availability of critical raw materials. In this interplay of high technology and geopolitics, well-founded information becomes a valuable commodity. Companies like Aspermont ensure the necessary transparency in the supply chain with their data treasures. We shed light on the new raw materials hype and highlight opportunities.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 28th, 2026 | 07:10 CEST
Linde, Amazon, and Pure One: The New Alliance Against Fossil Fuel Dependency
The energy crisis is highlighting the global economy's dangerous dependence on fossil fuels. In particular, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has exposed the vulnerability of industrial supply chains, as critical feedstocks such as ammonia and methanol are becoming scarce alongside oil and gas. According to analyses by Wood Mackenzie, such a disruption leads to significant price spikes in the chemical industry and threatens the global supply of raw materials. In this unstable environment, hydrogen is gaining new significance as a tool for national security and industrial resilience. Innovative processes, such as the direct reduction of iron ore or the electrification of chemical reactors, enable the industry to gradually break free from fossil fuel imports. We examine the business models of Linde, Amazon, and Pure One, highlighting how these players are driving the hydrogen transition in the EU and Germany, and how investors can capitalize on these opportunities.
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Commented by Nico Popp on April 27th, 2026 | 07:45 CEST
No Security Without Drones: Volatus Aerospace, Helsing, and Rheinmetall Under Review
No drones, no security — that bluntly summarizes the strategic doctrine in today's geopolitical environment. Success in modern defense increasingly hinges on resilient supply chains and software sovereignty. Dependence on Chinese components is now widely seen as a critical vulnerability. As a result, new value chains are emerging. Software pioneers like Helsing are delivering the AI backbone for autonomous swarm technologies and securing billion-dollar contracts, while defense heavyweight Rheinmetall is rapidly scaling production for large-scale orders, including the FV-014 Kamikaze Drones. Meanwhile, Canadian drone veteran Volatus Aerospace is positioning itself as an indispensable partner that bridges the gap between civilian logistics and military readiness through its consistent "dual-use model." It is precisely this versatility that is considered crucial for scaling up even in peacetime.
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